162 Potatoes.- [Part II. 



276. But, to return to Dick and John ; the former has 

 got his five bushels of potatoes, and the latter his bushel 

 of flour. I shall by and by, have to observe upon the 

 stock that Dick must lay in, and upon the stowage that 

 he must have ; but, at present, Ave Avill trace these two 

 commodities in their way to the mouth and in their 

 effects upon those Avho eat them. Dick has got five 

 bushels at once, because he could have them a little 

 cheaper. John may have his Peck or Gallon of flour : 

 for that has a fixed and indiscriminating price. It re- 

 quires no trick in dealing, no judgment, as in the case 

 of the roots, which may be icet, or hollow, or hot ; flour 

 may be sent for by any child able to carry the quantity 

 wanted. However, reckoning Dick's trouble and time 

 nothing in getting home his five bushels of potatoes, 

 and supposing him to have got the right sort, a '■'■fine 

 sort," which he can hardlj' fail of, indeed, since the 

 whole nation is now full of " fine sort," let us now see 

 how he goes to work to consume them. He has a piece 

 of bacon upon the rack, but he must haA'e some pota- 

 toes too. On goes the pof, but there it may as well 

 hang, for we shall find it in continual requisition. For 

 this time the meat and roots boil together. But, what 

 is Dick to have for supper ? Bread '? No. He shall 

 not have bread, imless he will have bread for dinner. 

 Put on the Pot again for supper. Up an hour before 

 day light and on with the pot. Fill your luncheon- 

 bag, Dick : nothing is so relishing and so strengthening 

 out in the hanest-field, or ploughing on a bleak hill 

 in winter, as a cold potatoe. But, be sure, Dick, to 

 wrap your bag well up in your clothes, during winter, 

 or, Avhen you come to lunch, you may, to your great 

 surprise, find your food transformed into pebbles. Home 

 goes merry Dick, and on goes the pot again. Thus 

 1095 times in the year Dick's pot must boil. This is, 

 at least, a thousand times oftener than with a bread 

 and meat diet. Once a week baking and once a week 

 boiling, is as much as a farm house used to require. 

 There must be some fuel consumed in winter for warmth. 

 But here- are, at the least, 500 fires to be made for the 

 sake of these potatoes, and, at a penny a fire, the 



